1.
Instruction by company will always precede that by battalion, and the
object being
to prepare the soldiers for the higher school, the exercises of detail
by
company will be strictly adhered to, as well in respect to principles,
as the
order of progression herein proscribed.

2.
There will be attached to a company undergoing elementary instruction,
a
captain, a covering sergeant, and a certain number of file closers, the
whole
posted in the manner indicated, Title First, and, according to the same
title,
the, officer charged with the exercise of such company will herein be
denominated
the instructor.

3.
The School of the Company will be divided into six lessons, and each
lesson
will comprehend five articles, as follows:

4.
The company will always be formed in two ranks. The instructor will
then cause
the files to be numbered, and for this purpose will command:

In
each rank-Count Twos.

5.
At this command, the men count in each rank, from right to left,
pronouncing in
a loud and distinct voice, in the same tone, without hurry and without
turning
the head, one, two, according to the place which
each one occupies. He
will also cause the company divided into platoons and sections, taking
care
that the first platoon is always composed of an even number of files.

6.
The instructor will be as clear and concise as possible in his
explanations; he
will cause faults of detail to be rectified by the captain, to whom he
will
indicate them, if the captain should not have himself observed them;
and the
instructor will not otherwise interfere, unless the captain should not
well
comprehend, or should badly execute his intentions.

7.
Composure, or presence of mind, in him who commands, and in those who
obey,
being the first means of order in a body of troops, the instructor will
labor
to habituate the company to this essential quality, and will himself
give the
example.

8.
The company being at ordered arms, the ranks and file closers well
aligned,
when the instructor shall wish to cause the ranks to be opened, be will
direct
the left guide to place himself on the left of the front rank, which
being
executed, he will command:

9.
At the fourth command, the covering sergent, and the left guide, will
step off
smartly to the rear, four paces from the front rank, in order to mark
the
alignment of the rear rank. They will judge this distance by the eye,
without
counting the steps.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON I.

10.
The instructor will place himself at the same time on the right flank,
in order
to observe if these two non-commissioned officers are on a line
parallel to the
front rank, and if necessary, to correct their positions, which being
executed,
he will command:

5.
MARCH.

11.
At this command, the front rank will stand fast.

12.
The rear rank will step to the rear, without counting the steps, and
will place
themselves on the alignment marked for this rank, conforming to what is
prescribed in the school of the soldier, No. 321.

13.
The covering sergeant will align the rear rank on the left guide placed
to mark
the left of this rank.

14.
The file closers will march to the rear at the same time with the rear
rank,
and will place themselves two paces from this rank when it is aligned.

15.
The instructor seeing the rear rank aligned, will command:

6.
FRONT.

16.
At this command, the sergeant on the left of the rear rank will return
to his
place as a file closer.

17.
The rear rank being aligned, the instructor will direct the captain and
the
covering sergeant to observe the men in their respective ranks, and to
correct,
if necessary, the positions of persons and pieces.

18.
The ranks being open, the instructor will, in the first exercises,
align the
ranks, man by man the better to inculcate the principles.

19.
To effect this, he will cause two or four men on the right or left of
each rank
to march two or three paces forward, and, after having aligned them,
command:

By
file right (or left)-DRESS.

20.
At this, the men of each rank will move up successively on the
alignment, each
man being preceded by his neighbor in the same rank, towards the basis,
by two
paces, and having correctly aligned himself, will cast his eyes to the
front

21.
Successive alignments having habituated the soldiers to dress
correctly, the
instructor will cause the ranks to align themselves at once, forward
and
backward, sometimes in a direction parallel, and sometimes in one
oblique, to
the original direction, giving, in each case, two or four men to serve
as a
basis of alignment to each rank. To effect which, he will command:

1.
Right (or left)- DRESS. 2. FRONT.

or

1.
Right (or left) backward-
DRESS 2. FRONT.

22.
In oblique alignments, in opened ranks, the men of
the rear rank will
not seek to cover their file leaders, as the sole object of the
exercise is to
teach them to align themselves correctly in their respective ranks, in
the
different directions.

23.
In the several alignments, the captain will superintend the front rank,
and the
covering sergeant the rear rank. For this purpose, they will place
themselves
on the side by which the ranks are dressed.

24.
In oblique alignments, the men will conform the line of their shoulders
to the
new direction of their rank, and will place themselves on the alignment
as has
been prescribed in the school of the soldier, No. 317 or No. 321,
according as
the new direction shall be in front or rear of the original one.

25.
At the end of each alignment, the captain and the covering sergeant
will pass
along the front of the ranks to correct the positions of persons and
arms.

30.
The ranks being closed, the instructor will cause to be executed
parallel and oblique
alignments by the right and left, forward and backward, observing to
place
always two or four files to serve as a basis of alignment. He will give
the
commands prescribed, No. 21.

31.
In alignments in closed ranks, the captain will superintend the front
rank, and
the covering sergeant the rear rank. They will habituate themselves to
judge
the alignment by the lines of the eyes and shoulders, in casting a
glance of
the eye along the front and rear of the ranks.

32.
The moment the captain perceives the greater number 'of the front rank
aligned,
he will command FRONT, and rectify, afterwards, if necessary, the
alignment of
the other men by the means prescribed in the school of the soldier, No.
320.
The rear rank will conform to the alignment of the front rank,
superintended by
the covering sergeant.

33.
The ranks being steady, the instructor will place himself on the flank
to
verify their alignment. He will also see that each rear rank man covers
accurately his file leader.

34.
In oblique alignments, the instructor will observe what is prescribed
No. 24.

35.
In all alignments, the file closers will preserve the distance of two
paces
from the rear rank.

36.
The alignments being ended, the instructor will cause to be executed
the manual
of arms.

37.
The instructor, wishing to rest the men, without deranging the
alignment, will
first cause arms to be supported, or ordered, and then command:

In
place-REST.

38.
At this command, the men will no longer be constrained to preserve
silence or
steadiness of position; but they will always keep one or other heel on
the
alignment.

39.
If, on the contrary, the instructor should wish to rest the men without
constraining them to preserve the alignment, he will command:

REST.

40.
At which command, the men will not be required to preserve immobility,
or to
remain in their places.

41.
The instructor may, also, when he shall judge proper, cause arms to be
stacked,
which will be executed as prescribed, school of the soldier.

44.
Loading in four times will be commanded and executed as prescribed in
the
school of the soldier, No. 251, and following. The instructor will
cause this
exercise to be often repeated, in succession, before passing to load at
will.

45
Loading at will will be commanded and executed as prescribed in the
school of
the soldier, No 256. In priming when loading in four times,
and also at
will, the captain and covering sergeant will half face to the
right with the men, and face to the front
when the man next to them, respectively brings his piece to the
shoulder.

46.
The instructor will labor to the utmost to cause the men, in the
different
loadings, to execute what has been prescribed in the school of the
soldier Nos.
257 and 258.

47.
Loading at will, being that of battle, and consequently the one with
which it
is most important to render the men familiar, it will claim preference
in the
exercises the moment the men be well established in the principles. To
these
they will be brought by degrees, so that every man may be able to load
with
cartridges, and to fire at least three rounds in a minute with ease and
regularity

48.
The instructor,
wishing to cause the live by company to be executed, will command:

Fire
by Company. 2.
Commence firing.

49.
At the first command, the captain will promptly place himself opposite
the centre
of his company, and four paces in rear of the line of file closers: the
covering sergeant will retire to that line, and place himself
opposite to his interval. This rule is general
for both the captain; and covering sergeant in all the different
firings.

50.
At the second
command the captain will add:

1.
Company; 2. READY 3. AIM; 4. FIRE;
5. LOAD

51.
At the command load, the men will load their pieces
and then take the
position of ready, as prescribed in the school of
the soldier

52.
The captain will
immediately recommence the firing by the commands:

1
Company. 2. AIM, 3. FIRE. 4. LOAD.

53.
The firing will be thus continued until the signal to cease firing is
sounded.

54.
The captain will sometimes cause aim to be taken to the right and left,
simply
observing to pronounce right (or left)
oblique, before the
command aim.

65.
The instructor
wishing to cause the fire by file to be executed, will command

1.
Fire by file. 2. Company. 3;
READY. 4. Commence firing.

56.
The third and fourth commands will be executed as prescribed in the
school of
the soldier, No. 275 and following.

57.
The fire will be commenced by the right file of the company; the next
file will
take aim at the instant the first brings down pieces to re-load, and so
on to
the left; but this progression will only be observed in the first
discharge,
after which each man will re-load and fire without regulating himself
by
others, conforming himself to what is prescribed in the school of the
soldier,
No. 280.

59.
The fifth and sixth commands will be executed as is prescribed in the
school of
the soldier, No. 285 and following.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON II.

60.
When the instructor
sees one or two pieces in the rear rank at a ready, he will command:

1.
Front rank. 2. Aim. 3. FIRE 4.
LOAD.

61.
The firing will be continued thus by alternate ranks, until the signal
is given
to cease firing.

62.
The instructor will sometimes cause aim to be taken to the right and
left,
conforming to what is prescribed No. 54.

63.
The instructor will cause the firing to cease, whether by company, by
file, or
by rank, by sounding the signal to cease firing and
at the instant this
sound commences, the men will cease to fire, conforming to what is
prescribed
in the school of the soldier, No. 282.

64.
The signal to cease firing will always be followed by a bugle note; at
which
sound, the captain and covering sergeant will promptly resume their
places in
line, and will rectify, if necessary, the alignment of the ranks.

65.
In this school, except when powder is used, the signal, to cease firing
will be
indicated by the command cease firing, which, will
be pronounced by the
instructor when he wishes the semblance of firing to cease.

66.
The command posts will be likewise substituted,
under similar
circumstances, for the bugle note employed as the signal for the return
of the
captain and covering sergeant to their places in line which command
will be
given when the instructor sees the men have brought their pieces to a
shoulder.

67.
The fire by file being that which is most frequently used against an
enemy, it
is highly important that it be rendered perfectly familiar to the
troops. The
instructor will, therefore, give it almost exclusive preference, and
labor to
cause the men to aim with care, and always, if possible, at some
particular
object. As it is of the utmost importance that the men should aim with
precision in battle, this principle will be rigidly enforced in the
exercises
for the purposes of instruction.

68.
The instructor will cause the several fires to be executed to the rear,
that
is, by the rear rank. To effect this, he will command:

1.
Face by the rear rank. 2. Company.
3. About-FACE.

69.
At the first command, the captain will step out and place himself near
to, and
facing the right file of his company; the covering sergeant, and file
closers,
will pass quickly through the captain's interval, and place themselves
faced to
the rear, the covreign sergeant a pace behind the captain, and the file
closers
two paces from the front rank opposite to their places in line, each
passing
behind the covering sergeant.

70.
It the third command, which will be given at the instant the last file
closer
shall have passed through the interval, the company will face about;
the
captain will place himself in his interval in the rear rank, now become
the
front, and the covering sergeant will cover him in the front rank, now
become
the rear.

71.
The company having faced by the rear rank, the instructor Will cause it
to
execute the fire by company, both direct and oblique, the fire by file,
and the
fire by rank, by the commands and means prescribed in the three
preceding
articles; the captain, covering sergeant, and the men will conform
themselves,
in like manner, to what is therein prescribed.

72.
The fire by file will commence on the left of the company, now become
the
right. In the fire by rank, the firing will commence with the front
rank, now
become the rear.

73.
To resume the proper
front, the instructor will command:

1.
Face by the front rank. 2. Company.
3. About-FACE.

74.
At the first command, the captain covering sergeant and file closers
will
conform to what is prescribed Nos. 60 and 70.

75.
At the third command, the company having faced about, the captain and
covering
sergeant will resume their places in line.

76.
In this lesson, the instructor will impress on the men the importance
of aiming
always at some particular object, and of holding the piece as
prescribed in the
school of the soldier, No. 178.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON III.

77.
The instructor will recommend to the captain to make a short pause
between the
commands aim and fire, to give
the men time to aim with accuracy.

78.
The instructor will place himself in position to see the two ranks, in
order to
detect faults; he will charge the captain and file closers to be
equally
watchful, and to report to him when the ranks are at rest. He will
remand, for
individual instruction, the man who may be observed to load badly.

79.
The instructor will recommend to the soldiers, in the firings, the
highest
degree of composure or presence of mind; he will neglect nothing that
may
contribute to this end.

80.
He will give to the men, as a general principle, to
maintain, in the
direct fire, the left heel in its place, in order that the alignment of
the
ranks and files may not be deranged; and he will verify, by
examination, after
each exercise in firing, the observance of this principle.

81.
The instructor will observe, in addition to these remarks, all those
which
follow:

82.
When the firing is executed with cartridges, it is particularly
recommended
that the men observe, in uncocking, whether smoke escapes from the
tube, which
is a certain indication that the piece has been discharged; but if, on
the
contrary, no smoke escapes, the soldier, in such case, instead of
reloading,
will pick and prime again. If, believing the load to be discharged, the
soldier
should put a second cartridge in his piece, he ought, at least, to
perceive it
in ramming, by the height of the load; and he would be very culpable
should he
put in a third. The instructor will always cause arms to be inspected
after
firing with cartridges, in order to observe if the fault has been
committed, of
putting three cartridges, without a discharge, in the same piece, in
which case
the ball screw will be applied.

83.
It sometimes happens when a cap has missed fire, that -the tube is
found
stopped up with a hard, white, and compact powder; in this case,
picking will
be dispensed with, and a new cap substituted for the old one.

84.
The company being in line of battle" and correctly aligned, when the
instructor shall wish to exercise it in marching by the front, he will
assure
himself that the shoulders of the captain and covering sergeant are
perfectly
in the direction of their respective ranks, and that the sergeant
accurately
covers the captain; the instructor will then place himself twenty-five
or
thirty paces in front of them, face to the rear, and place himself
exactly on
the prolongation of the line passing
between their heels.

85.
The instructor,
being aligned on the directing file, will command:

1.
Company, forward.

86.
At this, a sergeant, previously designated, will move six paces in
advance of
the captain: the instructor, from the position prescribed, will
correctly align
this sergeant on the prolongation of the directing file.

87.
This advanced sergeant, who is to be charged with the direction, will,
the
moment his position is assured, take two points on the ground in the
straight
line which would pass between his own and the heels of the instructor.

88.
These dispositions being made, the instructor will step aside, and
command:

2.
MARCH.

89.
At this, the company will step off with life. The directing sergeant
will
observe with the greatest precision, the, length and cadence of the
step,
marching on the two points he has chosen; he will take in succession,
and
always a little before arriving at the point nearest to him, new points
in
advance, exactly in the same line with the first two, and at the
distance of
some, fifteen or twenty paces from each other. The captain will march
steadily
in the trace of the directing sergeant, keeping always six paces from
him; the
men will each maintain the head direct to the front, feel lightly the
elbow of
his neighbor on the side of direction, and conform himself to the
principles
prescribed, school of the soldier, for the march by front.

90.
The man next to the captain will take special care not to pass him; to
this
end, he will keep the line of his shoulders a little in the rear, but
in the,
same direction with those of the captain.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON III.

91.
The file closers
will march at the habitual distance of two paces behind the rear rank.

92.
If the men lose the
step, the instructor will command;

To
the-STEP

93.
At this command, the men will glance towards the directing sergeant,
retake the
step from him, and again direct their eyes to the front.

94.
The instructor will cause the captain and covering sergeant to be
posted
sometimes on the right, and sometimes on the left of the company.

95.
The directing sergeant, in advance, having the greatest influence on
the march
of the company, he will be selected for the precision of his step, his
habit of
maintaining his shoulders in a square with a given line of direction,
and of
prolonging that line without variation.

96.
If this sergeant should fail to observe these principles, undulations
in the
front of the company must necessarily follow; the men will be unable to
contract the habit of taking steps equal in length and swiftness, and
of
maintaining their shoulders in a square with the line of direction-the
only
means of attaining perfection in the march in line.

97.
The instructor, with a view the better to establish the men in the
length and
cadence of the step, and in the principles of the march in line, will
cause the
company to advance three or four hundred paces, at once, without
halting if the
ground will permit. In the first
exercises, he will march the company with open ranks, the better to
observe the
two ranks.

98.
The instructor will see, with care that all the principles of the march
in line
are strictly observed; he will generally be on the directing flank, in
a
position to observe the two ranks and the faults they may commit; he
will
sometimes halt, behind the directing file during some thirty successive
steps,
in order to judge whether the directing sergeant or the directing file,
deviate
from the perpendicular.

100.
At the second command, the company will halt; the directing sergeant
will
remain in advance unless ordered to return to the line of file closers.
The
company being at a halt the instructor may advance the first three or
four
files on the side of direction and align the company on that basis, or
he any
confine himself to causing the alignment to be rectified. In this last
case, he
will command: Captain, rectify the alignment. The
captain will direct the covering sergeant to attend to
the rear rank, when each, glancing his eyes along his rank, will
promptly
rectify it, conforming to what is prescribed in the school of the
soldier No.
320.

101.
The company being in the direct march, when the instructor shall wish
to cause
it to march obliquely, he will command:

1.
Right (or left) oblique.
2. MARCH.

102.
At the command march, the company will take the
oblique step. The men
will accurately observe the principles prescribed in the school of the
soldier,
No. 331. The rear rank men will preserve their distances, and march in
rear of
the man next on the right (or left) of their habitual file leaders.

103.
When the instructor wishes the direct march to he resumed he will
command:

1.
Forward. 2. MARCH.

104.
At the command march, the company will resume the
direct march. The
instructor will move briskly twenty paces in front of the captain, and
facing
the company, will place himself exactly in the prolongation of the
captain and
covering sergeant; and then by a sign, will move the directing sergeant
on the
same line, if he be not already on it; the latter will immediately take
two
points on the ground between himself and the instructor, and as he
advances,
will take new points of direction, as is explained No. 89.

105.
In the oblique march, the men not having the touch of elbows, the guide
will
always be on the

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON III.

side
toward which the
oblique is made, without any indication
to that effect being given ; and when the direct match is resumed, the
guide
will be, equally without indication, on the side where it was previous
to the
oblique.

106.
The instructor will, at first, cause the oblique to be made toward the
side of
the guide. He will also direct the captain to have an eye on the
directing
sergeant, in order to keep on the same perpendicular line to the front
with
him, while following a parallel direction.

107.
During the continuance of the march, the instructor will be watchful
that the
men follow parallel directions, in conforming to the principles
prescribed in
the school of the soldier, for preserving the general alignment;
whenever the men
lose the alignment, he will be careful that they regain it by
lengthening or
shortening the step, without altering the cadence, or changing the
direction.

108.
The instructor will place himself in front of the company and face to
it, in
order to regulate the march of the directing sergeant or the man who is
on the
flank toward which the oblique is made, and to see that the principles
of the
march are properly observed, and that the files do not crowd.

109.
The company being in the direct march, and in quick time, the
instructor, to
cause it to mark time, will command:

1.
Mark time. 2. MARCH.

110.
To resume the
march, he will command:

1.
Forward. 2. MARCH.

111.
To cause the march
in double quick time, the instructor will command:

1.
Double quick. 2. MARCH.

112.
The command march will be pronounced at the instant either foot is
coming to
the ground.

113.
To resume quick time, the instructor will command:

1.
Quick time. 2. MARCH.

114.
The command march will be pronounced at the instant either foot is
coming to
the ground.

115.
The company being at a halt, the instructor may cause it to march in
the back
step; to this effect, he will command:

1.
Company backward. 2. MARCH.

116.
The back step will be executed according to the principles prescribed
in the
school of the soldier, No. 247, but the use of it being rare, the
instructor
will not cause more than fifteen or twenty steps to be taken in
succession, and
to that extent but seldom.

117.
The instructor ought not to exercise the company in marching in double
quick
time till the men are well established in the length and swiftness of
the pace
in quick time; he will then endeavor to render the march of one hundred
and
sixty-five steps in the minute equally easy and familiar, and also
cause them
to observe the same erectness of body and composure of mind, as if
marching in
quick time.

118.
When marching in double quick time, if a subdivision (in a column) has
to
change direction by turning, or has to form into
line, the men will
quicken the pace to one hundred and eighty steps in a minute. The same
swiftness of step will be observed under all circumstances where great
rapidity
of movement is required. But, as ranks of men cannot march any length
of time
at so swift a rate, without breaking or confusion, this acceleration
will not
be considered a prescribed exercise, and accordingly companies or
battalions
will only be habitually exercised in the double quick time of one
hundred and
sixty-five steps in the minute.

119.
The company being halted and correctly aligned, when the instructor
shall wish
to cause it to march in retreat, he will command:

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON IV.

1.
Company. 2. About-FACE.

120.
The company having faced to the rear, the instructor will place himself
in
front of the directing file, conforming to what is prescribed, No. 84.

121.
The instructor, being correctly established on the prolongation of the
directing file, will command:

3.
Company, forward.

122.
At this, the directing sergeant will conform himself to what is
prescribed Nos.
86 and 87, with this difference-he will place himself six paces in
front of the
line of file closers, now leading.

123.
The covering sergeant will step into the line of file closers, opposite
to his
interval, and the captain will place himself in the rear rank, now
become the
front.

124.
This disposition being promptly made, the instructor will command:

4.
MARCH.

125.
At this, the directing sergeant, the captain, and the men, will conform
themselves to what is prescribed No. 89, and following.

126.
The instructor will cause to be executed, marching in retreat, all that
is
prescribed for marching in advance; the commands and the means of
execution
will be the same.

127.
The instructor having halted the company, will, when he may wish, cause
it to
face to the front by the commands prescribed No. 119. The captain, the
covering
sergeant, and the directing sergeant, will resume their habitual places
in
line, the moment they shall have faced about.

128.
The company being in march by the front rank, if the instructor should
wish it
to march in retreat, he will cause the right about to be executed while
marching, and to this effect will command:

1.
Company. 2 Right about. 3. MARCH.

129.
At the third command, the company will promptly face about, and
recommence the
march arch by the rear rank.

130.
The directing sergeant will face about with the company, and will move
rapidly
six paces in front of the file closers, and upon the prolongation of
the guide.
The instructor will place him in the proper direction by the means
prescribed
No. 104. The captain, the covering sergeant, and the men, will conform
to the
principles prescribed for the march in retreat.

131.
When the instructor wishes the company to match by the front rank, he
will give
the same commands, and will regulate the direction of the march by the
same
means.

132.
The instructor will cause to be executed in double quick time, all the
movements prescribed in the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th lessons of this
school, with
the exception of the march backwards, which will be executed only in
quick
time. He will give the same commands, observing to add double
quick
before the command march.

133.
When the pieces are carried on the right shoulder, in quick time, the
distance
between the ranks will be sixteen inches. Whenever, therefore, the
instructor
brings the company from a shoulder to this position, the rear rank must
shorten
a little the first steps in order to gain the prescribed distance, and
will
lengthen the steps, on the contrary, in order to close up when the
pieces are
again brought to a shoulder. In marching in double quick time the
distance
between the ranks will be twenty-six inches, and the pieces will be
carried
habitually on the right shoulder.

134,
Whenever a company is halted, the man wilt bring their pieces at once
to a
shoulder at the command halt. The rear rank will close to its proper
distance. These
rules are general.

135.
The company being in line of battle, and at a halt, when the instructor
shall
wish to cause it to march by the right flank, he will command:

1.Company,
right-FACE.
2. Forward. 3. MARCH.

136.
At the first command, the company will
face to the right, the covering sergeant will place

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON IV,

himself
at the head of
the front rank the captain having stepped out for the purpose, so, far
as to
find, himself by the side of the sergeant, and on his left; the front
rank will
double as is prescribed in the school of the soldier No. 352; the rear
rank
will, at the same time, side step to the right one pace, and double in
the same
manner; go that when the movement is completed, the files will be
formed of
four men aligned, and elbow to elbow. The intervals will be preserved.

137.
The file closers will also move by side step to the right, so that when
the
ranks are formed, they will be two paces from the rearmost rank.

138.
At the command march, the company will move off
briskly in quick time;
the covering sergeant at the head of the front rank; and the captain on
his
left, will march straight forward. The men of each file will march
abreast of
their respective front rank men, heads direct to the front; the file
closers
will march opposite their places in line of battle.

139.
The instructor will cause the principles of the march by the flank to
be
observed, in placing himself pending on the march, as prescribed in the
school
of the soldier, No. 357.

140.
The instructor will cause the march by the left flank to be executed by
the
same commands, substituting left for right; the
ranks will double as has
been prescribed in the school for the soldier, No. 354; the rear rank
will
side-step to the left one pace before doubling.

141.
At the instant the company faces to the left, the left guide will place
himself
at the head of the front rank; the captain will pass rapidly to the
left, and
place himself by the right side of this guide; the covering sergeant
will
replace the captain in the front rank, the moment the latter quits it
to go to
the left.

142.
The company being faced by the flank, and either in march, or at a
halt, when
the instructor shall wish to cause it to wheel by file, he will command:

1.By
file, left, (or
right). 2. MARCH.

143.
At the command march, the first file will wheel; if
to the side of the
front rank man, the latter will take care not to turn at once, but to
describe a
short are of a circle, shortening a little the first five or six steps
in order
to give time to the fourth man of this file to conform himself to the
movement.
If the wheel be to the side of the rear rank, the front rank man will
wheel in
the step of twenty-eight inches, and the fourth man will conform
himself to the
movement by describing a short are of a circle as has been explained.
Each file
will come to wheel on the same ground where that which preceded it
wheeled.

144.
The instructor will see that the wheel be executed according to these
principles, in order that the distance between the files may always be
preserved, and that there be no check or hindrance at the wheeling
point.

To
halt the company marching by the flank, and to face it to the front.

145.
To effect these
objects, the instructor will command:

1.
Company. 2. HALT. 3. FRONT.

146.
The second and third commands will be executed as proscribed in the
school of
the soldier, Nos. 359 and 360. As soon as the files have undoubled, the
rear
rank will close to its proper distance. The captain and covering
sergeant, as
well as the left guide, if the march be by the left flank, will return
to their
habitual places in line at the instant the company faces to the front.

147.
The instructor may then align the company by one of the means
prescribed, No.
100.

The
company being
in march by the flank, to form it on the right (or left)

by
file into line of battle.

148.
If the company be
marching by the right flank, the instructor will command:

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON IV.

1.On
the right, by file into line. 2.
MARCH.

149.
At the command march, the rear rank men doubled will mark time; the
captain and
the covering sergeant will turn to the right, march straight forward,
and be
halted by the instructor when they shall have passed at least six paces
beyond
the rank of file closers; the captain will place himself correctly on
the line
of battle, and will direct the alignment as the men of the front rank
successively arrive; the covering sergeant will place himself behind
the
captain at the distance of the rear rank; the two men on the right of
the front
rank doubled, will continue to march, and passing beyond the covering
sergeant
and the captain, will turn to the right; after turning, they will
continue to
march elbow to elbow, and direct themselves towards the line of battle,
but
when they shall arrive at two paces from this line, the even number
will
shorten the step so that the odd number may precede him on the line,
the odd
number placing himself by the side and on the left of the captain; the
even
number will afterwards oblique to the left, and place himself on the
left of
the odd number; the next two men of the front rank doubled, will pass
in the
same manner behind the two first, turn then to the right, and place
themselves,
acccording to the means just explained, to the left, and by the side
of, the
two men already established on the line; the remaining files of this
rank will
follow in succession, and be formed to the left in the same manner. The
rear
rank doubled will execute the movement in the manner already explained
for the
front rank, taking care not to commence the movement until four men of
the
front rank are established on the line of battle; the rear rank men, as
they
arrive on the line, will cover accurately their file leaders.

150.
If the company be marching by the left flank, the instructor Will cause
it to
form by file on the left into line of battle, according to the same
principles
and by the same commands, substituting the indication left
for right.
In this case, the odd numbers will shorten the step, so that the even
numbers
may precede them on the line. The captain, placed on the left of the
front
rank, and the left guide, will return to their places in line of
battle, by
order of the instructor, after the company shall be formed and aligned.

151.
To enable the, men the better to comprehend the mechanism of this
movement, the
instructor will at first cause it to be executed separately by each
rank
doubled, and afterwards by the two ranks united and doubled.

152.
The instructor will place himself on the line of battle, and without
the point
where, the right or left is to rest, in order to establish the base of
the
alignment, and afterwards, he will follow up the movement to assure
himself
that each file conforms itself to what is prescribed No. 149.

The
company being in march by the flank, to form it by company, or by
platoon,

into
line, and to cause it to face to the right and left in
marching.

153.
The company being in march by the right flank, the instructor will
order the
captain to form it into line; the captain will immediately command: 1.By
company, into line. 2.
MARCH.

154.
At the command march, the covering sergeant will
continue to march
straight forward; the men will advance the right shoulder, take the
double
quick step, and move into line, by the shortest route, taking care to
undouble
the files, and to come on the line one after the other.

155.
As the front rank men successively arrive in line with the covering
sergeant,
they will take from him the step, and then turn their eyes to the front.

156.
The men of the rear rank will conform to the movements of their
respective file
leaders, but without endeavoring to arrive in line at the same time
with the
latter

157.
At the instant the movement begins, the captain will face to his
company in
order to follow up the execution; and, as soon as, the company is
formed, he
will command, guide left, place himself two paces
before the centre,
face to the front, and take the step of the company.

158.
At the command guide left, the second sergeant will
promptly place
himself in the front rank, on the left, to serve as guide, and the
covering
sergeant who is on the opposite flank will remain there.

159.
When the company marches by the left flank, this movement will be
executed by
the same commands, and according to the same principles; the company
being
formed, the captain will command guide right,

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

and
place himself in
front of his company as above; the covering sergeant who is on the
right of the
front rank will serve as guide, and the second sergeant placed on the
left
flank will remain there.

160.
Thus, in a column by company, right or left in front, the covering
sergeant and
the second sergeant of each company will always to placed on the right
and
left, respectively, of the front rank; they will be denominated right
guide
and left guide, and the one or the other charged
with the direction.

161.
The company being in march by the flank, if it be the wish of the
instructor to
cause it to form platoons, he will give an order to that effect to the
captain,
who will command:

1.
By platoon, into line. 2. MARCH.

162.
The movement will be executed by each platoon according to the above
principles. The captain will place himself before the centre of the
first
platoon, and the first lieutenant before the centre of the second,
passing
through the opening made in the centre of the company, if the march be
by the
right flank, and around the left of his platoon, it the march be by the
left;
in this last case the captain will also pass around the left of the
second
platoon in order to place himself in front of the first. Both the
captain and
lieutenant, without waiting for each other, will command guide
left (or
right), at the instant their respective platoons are formed.

163.
At the command guideleft (or
right) the guide of each
platoon will pass rapidly to the indicated flank of the platoon, if not
already
there.

164.
The right guide of the company will always serve as the guide of the
right or
left of the first platoon, and the left guide of the company will
serve, in
like manner, as the guide of the second platoon.

165.
Thus in a column, by platoon, there will be but one guide to each
platoon; he
will always be placed on its left flank, if the right be in front, and
on the
right flank, if the left be in front.

166.
In these movements, the file closers will follow the platoons to which
they are
attached.

167.
The instructor may cause the company, marching by the flank, to form by
company, or by platoon, into line, by his own direct commands, using
those
prescribed for the captain, No. 153 or 161.

168.
The instructor will exercise the company in passing, without a halt,
from the
march by the front, to the march by the flank, and reciprocally. In
either
case, he will employ the commands prescribed in the school of the
soldier, No.
363, substituting company for squad.
The company will face to the
right or left, in marching, and the captain, the guides, and file
closers will
conform themselves to what is prescribed for each in the march by the
flank, or
in the march by the front of a company supposed to be a subdivision of
a
column.

169.
If, after facing to the right or left, in marching, the company find
itself
faced by the rear rank, the captain will place himself two paces behind
the
center of the front rank, now in the rear, the guides will pass to the
rear
rank, now leading, and the file closers will march in front of this
rank.

170.
The instructor, in order to avoid fatiguing the men, and to prevent
them from
being negligent in the position of shoulder arms, will sometimes order
support
arms in marching by the flank, and. arms on the right shoulder, when
marching
in line.

171.
The company being at a halt, in line of battle, the instructor, wishing
to
break it into column, by platoon to the right, will command:

1.By
platoon, right wheel. 2.
MARCH.

172.
At the first command, the chiefs of platoon will place themselves
rapidly two
paces before the centers of their respective platoons, the lieutenant
passing
around the left of the company. They need not occupy themselves with
dressing,
one upon the other. The covering sergeant will replace the captain in
the front
rank.

173.
At the command march, the right front rank man of
each platoon will face
to the right, the covering sergeant standing fast; the chief of each
platoon
will move quickly by the shortest line, a little beyond the point at
which the
marching flank will rest when the wheel shall be completed, face to the
late
rear, and place himself so that the line which he forms with the man on
the
right (who had

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

faced,)
shall be
perpendicular to that occupied by the company in line of battle; each
platoon
will wheel according to the principles prescribed for the wheel on a
fixed
pivot, and when the man who conducts the marching flank shall approach
to near
to the perpendicular, its chief will command:

1.
Platoon. 2. HALT.

174.
At the command halt, which will be given at the
instant the man who
conducts the marching flank shall have arrived at three paces from the
perpendicular, the platoon will halt; the covering sergeant will move
to the
point where the left of the first platoon is to rest, passing by the
front
rank; the second sergeant will place himself, in like manner, in
respect to the
second platoon. Each will take care to leave between himself and the
man on the
right of his platoon, a space equal to its front; the captain and first
lieutenant will look to this, and each take care to align the sergeant
between
himself and the man of the platoon who had faced to the right.

175.
The guide of each platoon being thus established on the perpendicular,
each
chief will place himself two paces outside of is guide, and facing
towards him,
will command:

3.
Left-DRESS.

176.
The alignment being ended, each chief of platoon will command, FRONT,
and place
himself two paces before its centre.

177.
The file closers will conform themselves to the movement of their
respective platoons,
preserving always the distance of two paces from the rear rank.

178.
The company will break by platoon to the left, according to the same
principles. The instructor will command:

1.
By platoon, left wheel. 2. MARCH.

179.
The first command will be executed in the same manner as if breaking by
platoon
to the right.

180.
At the command march, the left front rank man of
each platoon will face
to the left, and the platoons will wheel to the left, according to the
principles prescribed for the wheel on a fixed pivot; the chiefs of
platoon
will conform to the principles indicated Nos. 173 and 174.

181.
At the command halt, given by the chief of each
platoon, the covering
sergeant on the right of the front rank of the first platoon, and the
second
sergeant near the left of the second platoon, will each move to the
points
where the right of his platoon is to rest. The chief of each platoon
should be
careful to align the sergeant between himself and the man of the
platoon who
had faced to the left, and will then command:

Right-DRESS.

182.
The platoons being aligned, each chief of platoon will command, FRONT,
and
place himself opposite its centre.

183.
The instructor wishing to break the company by platoon to the right and
to move
the column forward after the wheel is completed, will caution the
company to
that effect, and command:

1.
By platoon, right wheel. 2. MARCH.

184.
At the first command, the chiefs of platoon will move rapidly in front
of their
respective platoons, conforming to what has been prescribed No. 172,
and will
remain in this position during the continuance of the wheel. The
covering
sergeant will replace the chief of the first platoon in the front rank.

185.
At the command march, the platoons will wheel to
the right, conforming
to the principles herein prescribed; the man on the pivot will not face
to the
right, but will mark time, conforming himself to the movement of the
marching
flank; and when the man who is on the left of this flank shall arrive
near the
perpendicular, the instructor will command:

3.
Forward. 4. MARCH. 5. Guide left.

186.
At the fourth command, which will be given at the instant the wheel is
completed, the platoons will move straight to the front, all the men
taking the
step of twenty-eight inches. The covering sergeant and the second
sergeant will
move rapidly to the left of their respective platoons, the former
passing
before the front rank. The leading guide will immediately take points
on the
ground in the direction which may be indicated to him by the instructor.

187.
At the fifth command, the men will take the touch of elbows lightly to
the
left.

188.
If the guide of the second platoon should lose his distance, or the
line of
direction, he will conform to the principles herein prescribed, Nos.
202 and
203.

189.
If the company be marching in line to the front, the instructor will
cause it
to break by

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

platoon
to the right by
the same commands. At the command march, the
platoons will wheel in the
manner already explained, the man on the pivot will take care to mark
time in
his place, without advancing or receding; the instructor, the chiefs of
platoon, and the guides, will conform to what has been prescribed Nos.
184 and
following.

190.
The company may be broken by platoons to the left, according to the
same
principles, and by inverse means, the instructor giving the commands
prescribed
Nos. 183 and 185, substituting left for right,
and reciprocally

191.
The movements explained in Nos. 183 and 189 will only be executed after
the
company has become well established in the principles of the march in
column,
Articles Second and Third.

Remarks.

192.
The instructor, placed in front of the company, will observe whether
the
movement be executed according to the principles prescribed above;
whether the
platoons, after breaking into column, are perpendicular to the line of
battle
just occupied; and whether the guide, who placed himself where the
marching
flank of his platoon had to rest, has left, between himself and the
front rank
man on the right (or left), the space necessary to contain the front of
the
platoon.

193.
After the platoons have broken, if the rearmost guard should not
accurately
cover the leading one, be will not seek to correct his position till
the column
be put in march, unless the instructor, wishing to wheel immediately
into line,
should think it necessary to rectify the direction of the guides, which
would
be executed as will be hereinafter explained in Article Fifth of this
lesson.

194.
The instructor will observe, that the man on the right or left) of each
platoon, who, at the command march, faces to go
right (or left) being
the true pivot of the wheel, the front rank man next to him ought to
gain it
little ground to the front in wheeling, so as clear the pivot-man.

195.
The company having broken by platoon, right (or left) in front, the
instructor,
wishing to cause the column to march, will throw himself twenty-five or
thirty
paces in front, face to the guides, place himself correctly, on their
direction, and caution the leading guide to take points on the ground.

196.
The instructor being thus placed, the guide of the leading platoon will
take
two points on the ground in the straight line passing between his own
and the
heels of his instructor.

197.
These dispositions being made, the instructor will step aside and
command:

1.Column,
forward. 2. Guide
left (or right). 3.
MARCH.

198.
At the command march, promptly repeated by the
chiefs of platoon, they,
as well as the guides, will lead off, by a decided step, their
respective
platoons in order that the whole may move smartly, and at the same
moment.

199.
The men will each feel lightly the elbow of his neighbor toward the
guide, and
conform himself, in marching, to the principles prescribed in the
school of the
soldier, No. 327. The man next to the guide, in each platoon, will take
care
never to pass him, and also to march always about six inches to the
right (or
left) from him, in order not to push him out of the direction.

200.
The leading guide will observe, with the greatest precision, the length
and
cadence of the step, and maintain the direction of his march by the
means
prescribed No. 89.

201.
The following guide will march exactly in the trace of the leading one,
preserving between the latter and himself a distance precisely equal to
the
front of his platoon, and marching in the same step with the leading
guide.

202.
If the following guide lose his distance from the one leading, (which
can only
happen by his own fault,) he will correct himself by slightly
lengthening or
shortening a few steps, in order that there may not be sudden
quickenings or
slackenings in the march of his platoon.

203.
If the same guide, having neglected to march exactly in the trace of
the
preceding one, find himself sensibly out of the direction, he will
remedy this
fault by advancing more or less the shoulder opposite to the true
direction,
and thus, in a few steps, insensibly regain it, without the
inconvenience of
the oblique step, which would cause a loss of distance. In all cases,
each
chief of

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

platoon
will cause it to
conform to the movements of its guide.

Remarks
on the march in column.

204.
If the chiefs and guides of subdivisions neglect to lead off and to
decide the
march from the first step, the march will be begun in uncertainty,
which will cause
waverings, a loss of step and a loss of distance.

205.
If the leading guide take unequal steps, the march of his subdivision,
and that
which follows, will be uncertain; there will be undulations,
quickenings, and
slackenings in the march.

206.
If the same guide be not habituated to prolong a given direction,
without
deviation, he will describe a crooked line, and the column must wind to
conform
itself to such line.

207.
If the following guide be not habituated to march in the trace of the
preceding
one, he will lose his distance at every moment in endeavors to regain
the
trace, the preservation of which is the most important principle in the
march
in column.

208.
The guide of each subdivision in column will be responsible for the
direction,
distance and step; the chief of the subdivision for the order and
conformity of
his subdivision with the movements of the guide. Accordingly, the chief
will
frequently turn, in the march, to observe his subdivision.

209.
The instructor placed on the flank of the guides, will watch over the
execution
of all the principles prescribed ; he will, also, sometimes place
himself in
the rear, align himself on the guides, and halt, pending some thirty
paces
together, to verify the accuracy of the guides.

210.
In column, chiefs of subdivision will always repeat, with the greatest
promptitude, the commands march and halt,
no chief waiting for
another, but each repeating the command the moment he catches it from
the
instructor. They will repeat no other command given by him; but will
explain,
if necessary, to their subdivisions, in an under tone of voice, what
they will
have to execute, as indicated by the commands of caution.

211.
The changes of direction of a column while marching, will be executed
according
to the principles prescribed for wheeling on the march. Whenever,
therefore, a
column is to change direction, the instructor will change the guide, if
not
already there, to the flank opposite the side to which the change is to
be
made.

212.
The column being in march right in front, if it be the wish of the
instructor
to change direction to the right, he will give the order to the chief
of the
first platoon, and immediately go himself, or send a marker to the
point at
which the change of direction is to be made; the instructor, or marker,
will
place himself on the direction of the guides, so as to present the
breast to
that flank of the column.

213.
The leading guide will direct his march on that person, so that, in
passing,
his left arm may just graze his breast. When the leading guide shall
have
approached near to the marker, the chief of his platoon will command:

1.
Right wheel. 2. MARCH.

214.
The first command will be given when the platoon is at the distance of
four
paces from the marker.

215.
At the command march, which will be pronounced at
the instant the guide
shall have arrived opposite the marker, the platoon win wheel to the
right,
conforming to what is prescribed in the school of the soldier, No. 396

216.
The wheel being finished, the chief of each platoon will command:

3.
Forward. 4. MARCH.

217.
These commands will be pronounced and
executed as is prescribed in the school of the soldier, Nos. 398 and
399. The
guide of the first platoon will take points on the ground in the new
direction,
in order the better to regulate the march.

218.
The second platoon will continue to march
straight forward till up with the marker, when it will wheel to the
right, and
retake the direct march by the same commands and the same means which
governed
the first platoon.

219.
The column being in march right in front, if
the instructor should wish to change direction to the

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

left,
he will command, guide
right. At this command, the two guides will move rapidly to
the right of
their respective platoons, each passing in front of his subdivision;
the men
will take the touch of elbows to the right; the instructor will
afterwards conform
to what is prescribed No. 212.

220.
The change of direction to the left will then be executed according to
the same
principles as the change of direction to the right, but by inverse
means.

221.
When the change of direction is completed, the instructor will command,
guide
left.

222.
The changes of direction in a column, left in front, will be executed
according
to the same principles.

223.
In changes of direction in double quick time, the platoons will wheel
according
to the principles prescribed in the school of the soldier, No. 404.

224.
In order to prepare the men for those formations in line, which can be
executed
only by turning to the right or the left, the instructor will sometimes
cause
the column to change direction to the side of the guide. In this case,
the
chief of the leading platoon will command: left (or
right) turn,
instead of left (or right) wheel.
The subdivisions will
each turn, in succession, conforming to what is prescribed in the
school of the
soldier, No, 402. The leading guide, as soon as he has turned, will
take points
on the ground the better to regulate the direction of the march. .

225
It is highly important, in order to preserve distances and the
direction, that
all the subdivisions of the column should change direction precisely at
the
point where the leading subdivision changed; it is for this reason that
that
point ought to be marked in advance, and that it is prescribed that the
guides
direct their march on the marker, also that each chief of subdivision
shall not
cause the change to commence till the guide of his subdivision has
grazed the
breast of this marker.

226.
Each chief will take care that his subdivision arrives at the point of
change
in a square with the line of direction; with this view, he will face to
his
subdivision when the one which precedes has commenced to turn or to
wheel, and
he will be watchful that it continues to march squarely until it
arrives at the
point where the change of direction is to commence.

227.
If, in changes of direction, the pivot of the subdivision which wheels
should
not clear the wheeling point, the next subdivision would be arrested
and
distances lost; for the guide who conducts the marching flank having to
describe an arc, in length about a half greater than the front of the
subdivision, the second subdivision would be already up with the
wheeling
point, whilst the first which wheels has yet the half of its front to
execute,
and hence would be obliged to mark time until that half be executed. It
is
therefore prescribed, that the pivot of each subdivision should take
steps of
nine or eleven inches in length, according to the swiftness of the
gait, in
order not to arrest the march of the next subdivision. The chiefs of
subdivision will look well to the step of the pivot, and cause his step
to be
lengthened or shortened as may be judged necessary. By the nature of
this
movement, the centre of each subdivision will bend a little to the rear.

228.
The guides will never alter the length or the cadence of the step,
whether the
change of direction be to the side of the guide or to the opposite side.

229.
The marker, placed at the wheeling point, will always present his
breast to the
flank of the column. The instructor will take the greatest pains in
causing the
prescribed principles to be observed; he will see that each subdivision
only
commences the change of direction when the guide, grazing the breast of
the
marker, has nearly passed him, and, that the marching flank does not
describe
the arc of too large a circle, in order that it may not be thrown
beyond the
new direction.

230.
In change of direction by wheel, the guide of the wheeling flank will
cast his
eyes over the ground at the moment of commencing the wheel, and will
describe
an arc of a circle whose radius is equal to the front of the
subdivision.

231.
The column being in march, when the instructor shall wish to halt it,
he will
command:

1.
Column. 2. HALT

232.
At the second command, promptly repeated by the chiefs of platoon, the
column
will halt; the guides will also stand fast, although they may have lost
both
distance and direction.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

233.
If the command halt, be not repeated with the
greatest vivacity, and
executed at the same instant, distances will be lost.

234.
If a guide, having lost his distance, seek to recover it after that
command, be
will only throw his fault on the following guide, who, if he have
marched well,
will no longer be at his proper distance; and if the latter regain what
he has
thus lost, the movement will be propagated to the rear of the column.

Being
in column by platoon, to form to the right or left into line of battle,

either
at a halt or on the march.

235.
The instructor having halted the column, right in front, and wishing to
form it
into line of battle, will place himself at platoon distance in front of
the
leading guide, face to him, and rectify, if necessary, the position of
the
guide beyond; which being executed, he will command:

Left-DRESS.

236.
At this command, which will not be repeated by the chiefs of platoon,
each of
them will place himself briskly two paces outside of his guide, and
direct the
alignment of the platoon perpendicularly to the direction of the column.

237.
Each chief having aligned his platoon, will command FRONT, and return
quickly
to his place in column.

238.
This disposition being made, the instructor will command:

1.
Left into line, wheel. 2. MARCH.

239.
At the command march, briskly repeated by chiefs of
platoon, the front
rank man on the left of each platoon will face to the left, and place
his
breast lightly against the arm of the guide by his side, who stands
fast; the
platoons will wheel to the left on the principle of wheels from a halt,
and in
conformity to what is prescribed No. 194. Each chief will turn to his
platoon,
to observe its movement, and when the marching flank has approached
near the
line of battle, he will command:

1.
Platoon. 2. HALT.

240.
The command halt will be given when the marching
flank of the platoon is
three paces from the line of battle.

241.
The chief of the second platoon, having halted it, will return to his
place as
a file closer, passing around the left of his subdivision.

242.
The captain having halted the first platoon, will move rapidly to the
point at
which the right of the company will rest in line of battle, and command:

Right-
DRESS.

243.
At this command, the two platoons will dress up on the alignment; the
front
rank man on the right of the leading platoon, who finds himself
opposite the
instructor established on the direction of the guides, will place his
breast
lightly against the left arm of this officer. The captain will direct
the
alignment from the right on the man on the opposite flank of the
company.

244.
The company being aligned, the captain will command

FRONT.

245.
The instructor, seeing the company in line of battle, will command:

Guides-POSTS.

246.
At this command, the covering sergeant will cover the captain, and the
left
guide will return to his place as a file closer.

247.
If the column be left in front, and the instructor should wish to form
it to
the right into line of battle, he will place himself at platoon
distance in
front of the leading guide, face to him, and rectify, if necessary, the
position of the guide beyond; which being executed, he will command:

1.
Right into line, wheel. 2. MARCH.

248.
At the command march,
the front rank man on the right of each platoon will face to the right
and
place his breast lightly against the left arm of the guide by his side,
who
stands fast; each platoon will wheel to the right, and will be halted
by its
chief, when the marching flank has approached near the line of battle;
for this
purpose, the chief of each platoon will command:

1.Platoon.
2. HALT.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON V.

249.
The command halt will be given when the marching
flank of the platoon is
three paces from the line of battle. The chief of the second platoon
having
halted his platoon, will resume his place in the rank of file closers.

250.
The captain having halted the first platoon, will move briskly to the
point at
which the left of the company will rest, and command:

Left-DRESS.

251.
At this command, the two platoons will dress up on the alignment; the
man on
the left of the second platoon, opposite the instructor, will place his
breast
lightly against the right arm of this officer, and the captain will
direct the
alignment from the left on the man on the opposite flank of
the company.

252.
The company being aligned, the captain will command:

FRONT.

253.
The instructor will
afterwards command:

Guides-POSTS.

254.
At this command, the captain will move to the right of his company, the
covering sergeant will cover him and the left guide will return to his
place as
a file closer.

255.
The instructor may omit the command left or right
dress, previous
to commanding left or right into line,
wheel, unless, after
rectifying the position of the guides, it should become necessary to
dress the
platoons, or one of them, laterally to the right or left.

256.
The instructor, before the command left (or
right) into line, wheel,
will assure himself that the rearmost platoon is at its exact wheeling
distance
from the one in front. This attention is important, in order to detect
negligence on the part of guides in this essential point.

257.
If the column be marching right in front, and the instructor should
wish to
form it into line without halting the column, he will give the commands
prescribed No. 238, and move rapidly to platoon, distance in front of
the
leading guide.

258.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the
chiefs of platoon the left
guides will halt short, the instructor, the chiefs of platoon: and the
platoons, will conform to what is prescribed No. 239 and following.

259.
If the column be in march left in front, this formation will be made
according
to the same principles, and by inverse means.

260.
If the column be marching, right in front and the instructor should
wish to
form it into line without halting the column, and to march the company
in line
to the front, be will command:

1.
By platoons left wheel. 2. MARCH.

261.
At the command march, briskly repeated by the
chiefs of platoon, the
left guides will halt; the man next to the left guide in each platoon
will mark
time; the platoons will wheel to the left, conforming to the principles
of a
wheel on a fixed pivot. When the right of the platoons shall arrive
near the
line of battle, the instructor will command:

3.
Forward. 4. MARCH. 5. Guide right (or
left).

262.
At the fourth command, given at the instant the wheel is completed, all
the men
of the company will move off together with the step of twenty-eight
inches; the
captain, the chief of the second platoon, the covering sergeant, and
the left
guide will take their positions as in line of battle.

263.
At the fifth command, which will be given immediately after the fourth,
the
captain and covering sergeant, if not already there, will move briskly
to the
side on which the guide is designated. The non-commissioned officer
charged
with the direction will move rapidly in front of the guide, and will be
assured
in his line of march by the instructor, as is prescribed No. 104. That
non-commissioned officer will immediately take points on the ground as
indicated in the same number. The men will take the touch of elbows to
the side
of the guide, conforming themselves to the principles of the march in
line.

265.
The company marching in the cadenced step, and supposed to make part of
a
column, right in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to
break by
platoon, he will give the order to the captain, who will command: 1. Break
into platoons, and immediately place himself before the
centre of the first
platoon.

266,
At the command break into platoons, the first
lieutenant will pass
quickly around the left to the Center of his platoon, and give the
caution: Mark
time.

267.
The captain will then command: 2. March.

268.
The first platoon will continue to march straight forward; the covering
sergeant will move rapidly to the left flank of this platoon (passing
by the
front rank) as soon as the flank shall be disengaged.

269.
At the command march, given by the captain, the
second platoon will
begin to mark time; its chief will immediately add: 1. Right
oblique. 2.
MARCH. The last command will be given so that this platoon may commence
obliquing the instant the rear rank of the first platoon shall have
passed. The
men will shorten the step in obliquing, so that when the command forward
march is given, the platoon may have its exact distance.

270.
The guide of the second platoon being near the direction of the guide
of the
first, the chief of the second will command Forward,
and add MARCH, the
instant that the guide of his platoon shall cover the guide of the
first.

271.
In a column, left in front, the company will break into platoons by
inverse
means, applying to the first platoon all that has been prescribed for
the
second, and reciprocally.

272.
In this case, the left guide of the company will shift to the right
flank of
the second platoon, and the covering sergeant will remain on the right
of the
first.

To
re-form the company.

273.
The column, by platoon, being in march, right in front, when the
instructor shall
wish to cause it to form company, he will give order to the captain,
who will
command: Form company.

274.
Having given this command, the captain will immediately add: 1. First
platoon. 2. Right oblique.

275.
The chief of the second platoon will caution it to continue to march
straight
forward.

276.
The captain will then command: 3. MARCH.

277.
At this command, repeated by the chief of the second, the first platoon
will
oblique to the right, in order to unmask the second; the covering
sergeant, on
the left of the first platoon, will return to the right of the company,
passing
by the front rank.

278.
When the first platoon shall have nearly unmasked the second, the
captain will
command: 1. Mark time, and at the instant the
unmasking shall be
complete, be will add: 2. MARCH. The first platoon will then cease to
oblique,
and mark time.

279.
In the mean time the second platoon will have continued to march
straight
forward, and when it shall be nearly up with the first, the captain
will
command Forward, and at the instant the two
platoons shall unite, add
MARCH; the first platoon will then cease to mark time.

280.
In a column, left in front, the same movement will be executed by
inverse
means, the chief of the second platoon giving the command Forward,
and
the captain adding the command MARCH, when the platoons are united.

281.
The guide of the second platoon, on its right, will pass to its left
flank the
moment the platoons begin to oblique; the guide of the first, on its
right,
remaining on that flank of the platoon.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

282.
The instructor will also sometimes cause the company to break and
re-form by
platoon, by his own direct commands. In this case, he will give the
general
commands prescribed for the captain above: 1. Break into
platoons; 2.
MARCH; and 1. Form Company; 2. MARCH.

283.
If, in breaking the company into platoons, the subdivision that breaks
off should
mark time too long, it might, in a column of many subdivisions, arrest
the
march of the following one, which would cause a lengthening of the
column, and
a loss of distances.

284.
In breaking into platoons, it is necessary that the platoons which
oblique
should not shorten the step too much, in order not to lose distance in
column,
and not to arrest the march of the following subdivision.

285.
If a platoon obliques too far to a flank, it would be obliged to
oblique again
to the opposite flank, to regain the direction, and by the double
movement
arrest, probably, the march of the following subdivision.

286.
The chiefs of those platoons which oblique will face to their platoons,
in
order to enforce the observance of the foregoing principles.

287
When, in a column of several companies, they break in succession, it is
of the
greatest importance that each company should continue to march in the
same
step, without shortening or slackening, whilst that which precedes
breaks,
although the following company should close upon the preceding one.
This
attention is essential to guard against an elongation of the column.

288.
Faults of but little moment, in a column of a few companies, would be
serious
inconveniences in a general column of many battalions. Hence the
instructor
will give the greatest care in causing all the prescribed principles to
be
strictly observed. To this end, he will bold himself on the directing
flank,
the better to in observe all the movements.

Being
in column, to break files to the rear, and to cause them to re-enter
into line.

289.
The company being in march, and supposed to constitute a subdivision of
a
column, right (or left) in front, when the instructor shall wish to
cause files
to break off he will give the order to the captain, who will
immediately turn
to his company, and command:

1.
Two files from left (or right)to
rear. 2. MARCH.

290.
At the command march, the two files on the left (or
right) of the company,
will mark time, the others will continue to march straight forward; the
two
rear rank men of these files will, as soon as the rear rank of the
company
shall clear them, move to the right by advancing the outer shoulder;
the odd
number will place himself behind the third file from that flank, the
even
number behind the fourth, passing for
this purpose behind the odd number; the two front rank men will, in
like
manner, move to the right when the rear rank of the company shall clear
them,
the odd number will place himself behind the first file, the even
number behind
the second file, passing for this purpose behind the odd number. If the
files
are broken from the right, the men will move to the left, advancing the
outer
shoulder, the even number of the rear rank will place himself behind
the third
file, the odd number of the same rank behind the fourth; the even
number of the
front rank behind the first file, the odd number of the same rank
behind the
second, the odd numbers for this purpose passing behind the even
numbers. The
men will be careful not to lose their distances and to keep aligned.

291.
If the instructor should still wish to break two files from the same
side, he
will give the order to the captain, who will proceed as above directed.

292.
At the command march, given by the captain, the
files already broken,
advancing a little the outer shoulder, will gain the space of two files
to the
right, if the files are broken from the left, and to the left, if the
files are
broken from the right, shortening, at the same time, the step, in order
to make
room between themselves and the rear rank of the company for the files
last
ordered to the rear; the latter will break by the same commands and in
the same
manner as the first. The men who double should increase the length of
the step
in order to prevent distances from being lost.

293.
The instructor may thus diminish the front of a company by breaking off
successive groups of two files, but the new files must always be broken
front
the same side.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

294.
The instructor, wishing to cause files broken off to return into line,
he will
give the order to the captain, who will immediately command:

1.
Two files into line. 2. MARCH.

295.
At the command march, the first two files of those
marching by the flank
will return briskly into line, and the others will gain the space of
two files
by advancing the inner shoulder towards the flank to which they belong.

296.
The captain will turn to his company, to watch the observance of the
principles
which have just been prescribed.

297.
The instructor having caused groups of two files to break one after
another,
and to return again into line, will afterwards cause two or three
groups to
break together, and for this purpose, will command: Four or
six files from
left (or right)to rear;
MARCH. The files designated will
mark time; each rank will advance a little the outer shoulder as soon
as the
rear rank of the company shall clear it, will oblique at once, and each
group
will place itself behind the four neighboring files, and in the same
manner, as
if the movement had been executed group by group, taking care that the
distances are preserved.

298.
The instructor will next order the captain to cause two or three groups
to be
brought into line at once, who turning to the company, will command:

Four
or six files into line-MARCH.

299.
At the command march, the files designated will
advance the inner
shoulder, move up and form on the flank of the company by the shortest
lines.

300.
As often as files shall break off to the rear, the guide on that flank
will
gradually close on the nearest front rank man remaining in line, and he
will
also open out to make room for files ordered into line.

301.
The files which march in the rear are disposed in the following order:
the left
files as if the company was marching by the right flank, and the right
files as
if the company was marching by the left flank. Consequently, whenever
there is
on the right or left of a subdivision, a file which does not belong to
a group,
it will be broken singly.

302.
It is necessary to the preservation of distances in column that the men
should
be habituated in the schools of detail to execute the movements of this
article
with precision.

303.
If new files broken off do not step well to the left or right in
obliquing; if,
when files are ordered into line, they do not move up with promptitude
and
precision, in either case the following files will be arrested in their
march,
and thereby cause the column to be lengthened out.

304.
The instructor will place himself on the flank from which the files are
broken,
to assure himself of the exact observance of the principles.

305.
Files will only be broken off from the side of direction, in order that
the
whole company may easily pass from the front to the flank march.

To
march the column in route, and to execute the movements incident
thereto.

306.
The swiftness of the route step will be one hundred and ten steps in a
minute;
this swiftness will be habitually maintained in columns in route, when
the
roads and ground may permit.

307.
The company being at a halt, and supposed to constitute a subdivision
of a
column, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to march in the
route step
he will command:

1.
Column, forward. 2.Guide left (or
right.) 3. Route step.
4. MARCH.

308.
At the command march, repeated by the captain, the two ranks will step
off together;
the rear rank will take, in marching, by shortening a few steps, a
distance of
one pace (twenty-eight inches) from the rank preceding, which distance
will be
computed from the breasts of the men in the rear rank, to the knapsacks
of the
men in the front rank. The men, without farther command, will
immediately carry
their arms at will, as indicated in the school of
the soldier, No. 219.
They will no longer be required to march in the cadenced pace, or with
the same
foot, or to remain silent. The files will march at ease; but care will
be taken
to prevent the ranks from intermixing, the front rank from getting in
advance
of the guide, and the rear rank from opening to too great a distance.

SCHOOL OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

309.
The company marching in the route step, the instructor will cause it to
change
direction, which will be executed without formal commands, on a simple
caution
from the captain; the rear rank will come up to change direction in the
same
manner as the front rank. Each rank will conform itself, although in
the route
step, to the principles which have been prescribed for the change in
closed
ranks, with this difference only; that the pivot man, instead of taking
steps
of nine, will take steps of fourteen inches, in order to clear the
wheeling
point.

310.
The company marching in the route step, to cause it to pass to the
cadenced
step, the instructor will first order pieces to be brought to the right
shoulder, and then command:

1.Close
order. 2.
MARCH.

311.
At the command march,
the men will resume the cadenced step, and will close so as to leave a
distance
of sixteen inches between each rank.

312.
The company marching in the cadenced pace, the instructor to cause it
to take
the route step will command:

1.
Route step. 2. MARCH.

313.
At the command march, the front rank will continue
the step of
twenty-eight inches; the rear rank will take, by gradually shortening
the step,
the distance of twenty-eight inches from the front rank; the men will
carry
their arms at will.

314.
If the company be marching in the route step, and the instructor should
suppose
the necessity of marching by the flank in the same direction, he will
command:

1.
Company by the right (or left) flank.
2. By file left (or
right.) 3. MARCH.

315.
At the command march, the company will face to the
right (or left) in
marching, the captain will place himself by the side of the guide who
conducts
the leading flank; this guide will wheel immediately to the left or
right; all
the files will come in succession to wheel on the same spot as the
guide; if
there be files broken off to the rear, they will, by wheeling, regain
their
respective places, and follow the movement of the company.

316.
The instructor having caused the company to be again formed into line,
will
exercise it in increasing and diminishing front, by platoon: which will
be
executed by the same commands and the same means, as if the company
were
marching in the cadenced step. When the company breaks into platoons,
the chief
of each will move to the flank of his platoon and will take the place
of the
guide, who will step back into the rear rank.

317.
The company being in column by platoon, and supposed to march in the
route
step, the instructor can cause the front to be diminished and
increased, by
section, if the platoons have a front of twelve. files or more.

318.
The movements of diminishing and increasing front, by section, will be
executed
according to the principles indicated for the same movements by
platoon. The
right sections of platoons will be commanded by the captain and first
lieutenant, respectively; the left sections by the two next subalterns
in rank,
or, in their absence, by sergeants.

319.
The instructor wishing to diminish by section, will give the order to
the
captain, who will command:

1.
Break into sections. 2. MARCH.

320.
As soon as the platoons shall be broken, each chief of section will
place himself
on its directing flank in the front rank the guides who will be thus
displaced,
will fall back into the rear rank; the file closers will close up to
within one
pace of this rank.

321.
Platoons will be broken into sections only in the column in route; the
movement
will never be executed in the manoeuvres, whatever may be the front of
the
company.

322.
When the instructor
shall wish to re-form platoons, he will give the order to the captain,
who will
command:

1.
Form platoons. 2. MARCH.

323.
At the first
command, each chief of section will place himself before its centre,
and the
guides will pass into the front rank. At the command march,
the movement
will be executed as has been prescribed for forming company. The moment
the
platoons are formed, the chiefs of the left sections will return to
their
places as file closers.

324.
The instructor will also cause to be executed
the diminishing and increasing front by files, as prescribed in the
preceding
article, and in the same manner, as if marching in the cadenced step.
When the
company is broken into sections, the subdivisions must not be reduced
to a
front of less than six

SCHOOL
OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

files,
not counting the chief of the section.

325.
The company being broken by platoon or by section the instructor will
cause it,
marching in the route step, to march by the flank in the same
direction, by the
commands and the means indicated, Nos. 314 and 315. The moment the
subdivisions
shall face to the right (or left,) the first file of each will wheel to
the
left (or right,) in marching, to prolong the direction, and to unite
with the
rear file of the subdivision immediately preceding. The file closers
will take
their habitual places in the march by the flank, before the union of
the
subdivisions.

326.
If the company be marching by the right
flank, and the instructor should wish to undouble the files, which
might
sometimes be found necessary, he will inform the captain, who, after
causing
the cadenced step to be resumed, and arms to be shouldered or
supported, will
command:

1.
In two ranks, undouble files. 2. MARCH.

327.
At the second command, the odd numbers will continue to march straight
forward,
the even numbers will shorten the step, and obliquing to the left will
place
themselves promptly behind the odd numbers; the rear rank will gain a
step to
the left, so as to retake the touch of elbows on the side of the front
rank.

328.
If the company be marching by the left flank, it will be the even
numbers who
will continue to march forward, and the odd numbers who will undouble.

329.
If the instructor should wish to double the files, he will give the
order to
the captain, who will command:

1.
In four ranks, double files. 2. MARCH.

330.
At the command march, the files will double in the
manner as explained,
when the company faces by the right or the left flank. The instructor
will
afterwards cause the route step to be resumed.

331.
The various movements prescribed in this lesson may be executed in
double quick
time. The men will be brought, by degrees, to pass over at this gait
about
eleven hundred yards in seven minutes.

332.
When the company marching in the route step shall halt, the rear rank
will
close up at the command halt, and the whole will
shoulder arms.

333.
Marching in the route step, the men will be permitted to carry their
pieces in
the manner they shall find most convenient, paying attention only to
holding
the muzzles up, so as to avoid accidents.

334.
The company being at a halt, and supposed to constitute part of a
column, right
in front, when the instructor shall wish to cause it to countermarch,
he will
command:

1.
Countermarch. 2. Company, right-FACE.
3. By file left. 4. MARCH.

335.
At the second command the company will face to the right, the two
guides to the
right about; the captain will go to the right of his company and cause
two
files to break to the rear, and then place himself by the side of the
front
rank man, to conduct him.

336.
At the command march, both guides will stand fast; the company will
step off
smartly; the first file conducted by the captain, will wheel around the
right
guide, and direct its march along the front rank so as to arrive
behind, and
two paces from the left guide; each file will come in succession to
wheel on
the same ground around the right guide; the leading file having arrived
at a
point opposite to the left guide, the captain will command:

1.
Company. 2. HALT. 3. FRONT. 4. Right-DRESS.

337.
The first command will be given at four paces from
the point where the
leading file is to rest.

338.
At the second command, the company will halt.

339.
At the third, it will face to the front.

340.
At the fourth, the company will dress by the right; the captain will
step two
paces outside of the left guide, now on the right, and direct the
alignment, so
that the front rank may be enclosed between the two guides; the company
being
aligned, he will command FRONT, and place himself before the centre of
the
company as if in column; the guides, passing along the front rank, will
shift
to their proper places, on the right and left of that rank

SCHOOL
OF THE COMPANY-LESSON VI.

.

341.
In a column, by platoon, the countermarch will be executed by the same
commands, and according to the same principles; the guide of each
platoon will
face about, and its chief will place himself by the Hide of the file on
the
right, to conduct it.

342.
In a column, left in front, the countermarch will be executed by
inverse
commands and means, but according to the same principles. Thus, the
movement
will be made by the right flank of subdivisions, if the right be in
front, and
by the left flank, if the left be in front; in both cases the
subdivisions will
wheel by file to the side of the front rank.

Being
in column by platoon, to form on the right (or left) into line of battle.

343.
The column by platoon, right in front, being in march, the instructor,
wishing
to form it on the right into line of battle, will command:

1.
On the right into line. 2. Guide right.

344.
At the second command, the guide of each platoon will shift quickly to
its
right flank, and the men will touch elbows to the right; the column
will
continue to march straight forward.

345.
The instructor having given the second command, will move briskly to
the point
at which the right of the company ought to rest in line, and place
himself
facing the point of direction to the left which be will choose.

346.
The line of battle ought to be so chosen that the guide of each
platoon, after
having turned to the right, may have, at least, ten paces to take
before
arriving upon that line.

347.
The head of the column being nearly opposite to the instructor, the
chief of
the first platoon will command: 1. Rightturn;
and when exactly
opposite to that point, he will add:

2.
MARCH.

348.
At the command march, the first platoon will turn
to the right, in
conformity with the principles prescribed in the school of the soldier,
No.
402. Its guide will so direct his march as to bring the front rank man,
next on
his left, opposite to the instructor; the chief of the platoon will
march
before its centre; and when its guide shall be near the line of battle,
he will
command:

1.
Platoon. 2. HALT.

349.
At the command halt, which will be given at the
instant the right of the
platoon shall arrive at the distance of three paces from the line of
battle,
the platoon will halt; the files, not yet in line, will come up
promptly. The
guide will throw himself on the line of battle, opposite to one of the
three
left files of his platoon; he will face to the instructor, who will
align him
on the point of direction to the left, The chief of platoon having, at
the same
time, gone to the point where the right of the company is to rest,
will, as
soon as he sees all the files of the platoon in line, command

Right-DRESS.

350.
At this, the first platoon will align itself; the front rank man, who
finds
himself opposite to the guide, will rest his breast lightly against the
right
arm of this guide, and the chief of the platoon, from the right, will
direct
the alignment on this man.

351.
The second platoon will continue to march straight forward, until its
guide
shall arrive opposite to the left file of the first; it will then turn
to the
right at the command of its chief, and march towards the line of
battle, its
guide directing himself on the left file of the first platoon.

352.
The guide having arrived at the distance of three paces from the line
of
battle, this platoon will be halted, as prescribed for the first; at
the
instant it halts, its guide will spring on the line of battle, opposite
to one
of the three left files of his platoon, and will be assured in his
position by
the instructor.

353.
The chief of the second platoon, seeing all its files in line, and its
guide
established on the direction, will command:

SCHOOL
OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

Right-DRESS.

354.
Having given this command, he will return to his place as a file
closer,
passing around the left; the second platoon will dress up on the
alignment of
the first, and, when established, the captain will command:

FRONT.

355.
The movement ended,
the instructor will command:

Guides-POSTS.

356.
At this command, the two guides will return to their places in line of
battle.

357.
A column, by platoon, left in front, will form on the left into line of
battle,
according to the same principles, and, by inverse means, applying to
the second
platoon what is prescribed for the first, and reciprocally. The chief
of the
second platoon having aligned it, from the point of appui,
(the left,)
will retire to his place as a file closer. The captain having halted
the first
platoon three paces behind the line of battle, will go to the same
point to
align is this platoon, and then command: FRONT. At the command, guides-posts,
given by the instructor, the captain will shift to his proper flank,
and the
guides take their places in the line of battle.

358.
When the companies of a regiment are to be exercised, at the same time,
in the
school of the company, the colonel will indicate the lesson or lessons
they are
severally to execute. The whole will commence by a bugle signal, and
terminate
in like manner.

Formation
of a company from two ranks into single rank, and reciprocally.

359.
The company being formed into two ranks, in the manner indicated No. 8,
school
of the soldier, and supposed to make part of a column, right or left in
front,
when the instructor shall wish to form it into single rank, he will
command:

1.
In one rank, form company. 2. MARCH.

360.
At the first command, the right guide will face to the right.

361.
At the command march, the right guide will step off
and march in the
prolongation of the front rank.

362.
The first file will step off at the same time with the guide; the front
rank
man will turn to the right at the first step, follow the guide, and be
himself
followed by the rear rank man of his file, who will come to turn on the
same
spot where be had turned. The second file, and successively all the
other
files, will step off as has been prescribed for the first, the front
rank man
of each file following the rear rank man of the file next on his
right. The captain will superintend the movement,
and when the last man shall have stepped off, he will half the company,
and
face it to the front.

363.
The file closers will take their places in the line of battle, two
paces in the
rear of the rank.

364.
The company being in single rank, when the instructor shall wish to
form it
into two ranks, he will command:

1.
In two ranks, form company. 2. Company, right-FACE.
3. MARCH.

365.
At the second command, the company will face to the night: the right
guide and
the man on the right will remain faced to the front.

366.
At the command march, the men who have faced to the
right, will step
off, and form files in the following manner: the second man in the rank
will
place, himself behind the first to form the first file; the third will
place
himself by the side of the first in the front rank; the fourth behind
the third
in the rear rank. All the others will, in like manner, place
themselves,
alternately, in the front and rear rank, and will thus form files of
two men,
on the left of those already formed.

367.
The formations above described will be habitually executed by the right
of
companies; but when the instructor shall wish to have them executed by
the
left, be will face the company about, and post the
guides in the rear
rank.

368.
The formation will then be executed by the same commands and according
to the
same principles as by the front rank; the movement commencing with the
left
file, now become the right, and in each file by the rear rank man, now
become
the front; the left guide will conform to what has been prescribed for
the
right.

369.
The formation ended, the instructor will face the company to its proper
front.

SCHOOL
OF THE
COMPANY-LESSON VI.

370.
When a battalion in line has to execute either of the formations above
described, the colonel will cause it to break to the rear by the right
or left
of companies, and will then give the commands just prescribed for the
instructor. Each company will execute the movement as if acting singly.

Formation
of a company front two ranks into four, and reciprocally, at a halt,
and in
march.

371.
The company being
formed in two ranks, at a halt, and supposed to form part of a column
right in front,
when the instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks, he will
command:

1.
In four ranks, form company. 2. Company left-FACE.
3. MARCH (or double
quick-MARCH).

372.
At the second command, the left guide will remain faced to the front,
the company
will face to the left; the rear rank will gain the distance of one pace
from
the front rank by a side step to the left and rear, and the men will
form into
four ranks as prescribed in the school of the soldier.

373.
At the command march, the first file of four men
will reface to the
front without undoubling. All the other files of four will step off,
and
closing successively to about five inches of the preceding file, will
halt, and
immediately face to the front, the men remaining doubled.

374.
The file closers will take their new places in line of battle, at two
paces in
rear of the fourth rank.

375.
The captain will superintend the movement.

376.
The company being in four ranks, when the instructor shall wish to form
it into
two ranks, he will command:

1.
In two
ranks, form company. 2. Company
right-FACE. 3. MARCH (or double
quick-MARCH)

377.
At the second command the left guide will stand fast, the company will
face to
the right.

378.
At the command march, the right guide will step off
and march in the
prolongation of the front rank. The leading file of four men will step
off at
the same time, the other files standing fast; the second file will step
off
when there shall be between it and the first space sufficient to form
into two
ranks. The following files will execute successively what has been
prescribed
for the second. As soon as the last file shall have its distance, the
instructor will command:

1.Company.
2. HALT. 3. FRONT.

379.
At the command front,
the company will face to the front and the files will undouble.

380.
The company being formed in two ranks, and marching to the front, when
the
instructor shall wish to form it into four ranks he will command:

1.In
four ranks, form company. 2. By
the left
double files. 3. MARCH (or double quick-MARCH)

381.
At the command march, the left guide and the left
file of the company
will continue to march straight to the front; the company will make a
half face
to the left, the odd numbers placing themselves behind the even
numbers. The
even numbers of the rear rank will shorten their steps a little, to
permit the
odd numbers of the front rank to get between them and the even numbers
of that
rank. The files thus formed of fours, except the left file, will
continue to
march obliquely, lengthening their steps slightly, so as to keep
constantly
abreast of the guide; each file will close successively on the file
next on its
left, and when at the proper distance from that file, will face to the
front by
a half face to the right, and take the touch of elbows to the left.

382.
The company being in march to the front in four ranks, when the
instructor
shall wish to form it into two ranks, be will command:

383.
At the command march, the left guide and the left
file of the company
will continue to march straight to the front; the company will make a
half face
to the right and march obliquely, lengthening

INSTRUCTION
FOR SKIRMISHERS.

the
step a little, in order to keep, as near as
possible, abreast of the guide. As soon as the second file from the
left shall
have gained to the right the interval necessary for the left file to
form into two
ranks, the second file will face to the front by a half face to the
left and
march straight forward; the left file will immediately form into two
ranks, and
take the touch of elbows to the left. Each file will execute
successively, what
has just been prescribed for the file next to the left, and each file
will form
into two ranks when the file next on its right has obliqued the
required
distance and faced to the front.

384.
If the company be supposed to make part of a column, left in front,
these
different movements will be executed according to the same principles
and by
inverse means, substituting the indication left for
right.

END
OF THE SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY.

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